One of the greatest all-time Denver Broncos is returning to the organization. Former All-Pro safety Steve Atwater will return to the team as Fan Development Manager and Broncos Insider, the team announced.
Atwater, who donned the orange and blue from 1989 to 1998, ranks second all all time in postseason starts (14) for the Broncos behind only John Elway (21). His 155 starts for the Broncos ranks 10th all time. His 1,038 tackles rank third behind Dennis Smith and Karl Mecklenburg.
This will make you smile.
Steve Atwater is joining us as Fan Development Manager and Broncos Insider.
Welcome 🏡 to a #Broncos legend! pic.twitter.com/Fg6VwRMBn7
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) July 22, 2017
The Broncos drafted Atwater 20th overall out of Arkansas in 1989. The Chicago native played all but one season, his 11th and final with the Jets, in Denver.
Atwater was named to the Ring of Fame in 2005 and was a member of the NFL All-Decade team for the 1990s.
Known for his bone-jarring hits, Atwater is perhaps best remembered for this wallop on Chiefs running back Christian Okoye.
Of course, Atwater was much more than that one hit.
He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion (XXXII, XXXIII), two-time first-team All-Pro (1991, ’92) and eight-time Pro Bowler (1990-96, ’98). In Super Bowl XXXII, when Denver finally won its first Super Bowl, Atwater six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble to help defeat the Green Bay Packers.
In retirement, Atwater founded a real estate management company that had offices in 30 states by 2009.
Atwater was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and a finalist in 2016.